title: An encapsulation of iron homeostasis and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: Vertebrate hosts actively sequester iron, and fungal and other pathogens must therefore adapt to a severe limitation in iron availability to cause disease. Recent studies reveal that the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans overcomes iron limitation by multiple mechanisms that target transferrin and heme. The regulation of iron uptake is mediated by an interconnected set of transcription factors that include the master iron regulator Cir1 and the pH-responsive factor Rim101. These factors integrate iron homeostasis with a myriad of other functions including pH sensing, nutrient and stress signaling pathways, virulence factor elaboration, and cell wall biogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: Kronstad@msl.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kronstad
authors.forename: Guanggan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Won Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007501:Iron
keywords: capsule; cell wall; fungal pathogenesis; heme; melanin; pH; signaling; virulence